Log debarking apparatus



1965 F. G. FERRABEE LOG DEBARKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan.22, 1964 INVENTOR. FRANCIS 6. FERRABEE' ATTORNEY Jan. 11, 1966 F G.FERRABEE 3,228,440

LOG DEBARKING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 6

INVENTOR.

FRANCIS 6. FERRA BEE ATTORNEY 1966 F. G. FERRABEE LOG DEBARKINGAFPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 22. 1964 INVENTOR. FRANCIS 6.FEHRABEE 2 I ATTORY Jan. 11, 1966 F, G. FERRABEE LOG DEBARKING APPARATUSFiled Jan. 22, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. FRANCIS G. F ERRABEE'ATTORNEY United States Patent Office Patented Jan. '11, 1955 3,228,440LOG DEhARKlNG APPARATUS Francis G. Ferrabee, Montreal, Quebec, Canada,assignor to Canadian lngersoll-Rand Co., Ltd, Montreai, Quebec, Canada,a corporation of Canada Filed Jan. 22, 1964-, Ser. No. 339,338 9 Claims.(61. 144-238) This invention relates to apparatus for abrading fibrousobjects and more particularly to an improved automated log debarkingapparatus.

The objections to and defects of conventional automated log debarkingapparatus are that:

(1) Machines of this kind are composed of a large number of parts andare subject to severe wear, breakage and maintenance; and

(2) Such machines are expensive to build, to install and to maintain.

It is the general object of the present invention to avoid and overcomethe foregoing and other diificulties of and objections to prior artpractices by the provision of an improved automated log debarkingapparatus which:

(1) Maintains the logs in continuous rolling abrading contact toefiiciently debark the logs;

(2) Is economical in labor and in power consumption;

(3) Removes bark from logs of any length, shape or diameter;

(4) Is simple, rugged and durable;

(5) Is low in initial cost, in installation cost and in maintenancecost;

(6) Substantially eliminates frequent shut down to sharpen or replacecutters;

(7) Completely removes the bark from the logs and does not remove ordamage valuable wood in the debarked logs;

(8) Is completely automated and capable of high debarked log production;

(9) Easily and quickly feeds logs to and discharges logs from theapparatus;

(10) Reduces materially the log load and log impact on the drum, therebyreducing the weight, vibration strain, wear and breakage in theapparatus, and simplifies the journalling problem; and

(11) Efficiently removes frozen bark from the logs.

The aforesaid objects of the present invention, and other objects whichwill become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved byproviding log debarking apparatus for automatically debarking logs. Aswill be seen from the accompanying drawings and the followingdescription, this apparatus, in brief, comprises a first supportingmeans and a second supporting means adjacent and facing the firstsupporting means. The first and second supporting means cooperate toform a log passage therebetween and incline to opposing sides of the logpassage. A plurality of first debarking staves are carried by the firstsupporting means for movement therearound in the direction of theincline thereof and a plurality of second or stationary debarking stavesis carried by the second supporting means. The first debarking means isoperative to rotate the logs in frictional contact with each other andthe first debarking means and the stationary debarking means to debarkthe logs.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference should behad to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals of referenceindicate similar parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present inventionfilled with logs and showing the endless chain means, first debarkingmeans, stationary debarking means, log feed means, log discharge means,first positioning means for the first debarking means, weir means, weirpositioning means, log feeding means, log discharging means, and barkdischarge means;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the endless chain means withthe end plate first positioning means, etc., removed to show the detailsof the endless chain means;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the firstdebarking means;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the first debarking means shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of the stationary debarking means;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of the stationary debarking means;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of an alternative embodiment showinga sectionalized first debarking means and stationary debarking meanswith positionable weir means disposed between such sections andeliminating for clarity the logs, log feeding means, log discharge meansand end plate on the endless chain means; and

FIG. 8 is an end view of a further alternative embodiment showing apositionable stationary debarking means.

Although the principles of the present invention are broadly applicableto apparatus for abrading fibrous objects, the present invention isparticularly adapted for use in conjunction with the debarking of logsand hence it has been so illustrated and will be so described.

With specific reference to the form of the present invention illustratedin the drawings, and referring particularly to FIG. 1, a log debarkingapparatus of the present invention is indicated generally by thereference numeral 10. This log debarking apparatus 10 is utilized forautomatically debarking logs 12 (FIG. 1) and has an endless chain means14 (FIGS. 1 and 2), which endless chain means is rotatable about itslateral axis and is comprised of sections 14a, 14b and 14c.

The structure utilized for the endless chain means 14 (FIG. 2) has aribbed frame or support 16, a plurality of gear Wheels 16 mounted onshafts 20, the lower one of the shafts 29, as viewed in FIG. 2, beingjo-urnalled in a bed plate 22 (FIG. 1) and being driven by conventionalmeans, such as a motor (not shown). Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, anendless chain 24 is composed of a plurality of spaced hinged plates 26.End plates 28, only one of which is shown in FIG. 1, cover the ribbedframe 16 (FIG. 2) and gear wheels 18.

In order to integrate the spaced hinged plates 26 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of theendless chain 24, first debarking means, such as movable staves 30(FIGS. 14) are disposed on the hinged plates 26, as by conventionalsecuring means, such as welding. The movable staves 30 are employed fordebarking the logs 12 (FIG. 1). These movable staves 30 may be of anyconventional shape, such as serrated or formed of protu berances, orcavities, all not shown.

Disposed adjacent the movable staves 30 is a stationary debarking means31 (FIG. 1) for cooperating with the movable staves 30 to de-bark thelogs 12. As shown in FIG. 1, such stationary debarking means 31comprises a frame or support 32 having beams 33 (one of which is showndotted in FIG. 1) and a plurality of stationary staves 34 (FIGS. 5 and6) secured as by welding in spaced relation on the frame 32. Thestationary staves 34 may be serrations, corrugations, protuberances orcavities or the like, all not shown.

The movable staves 3% are operative to rotate the logs 12 (FIG. 1) infrictional contact with each other and the movable staves 30 and thestationary staves 34 to debark the logs 12.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, as shown in PEG.1, the log debarking apparatus 10 may be provided with log feedingmeans, such as the log feeding conveyor 36 for feeding the logs 12 intothe movable staves 3 and stationary staves 34.

Also, as shown in FIG. 1, a log discharge means, such as the logdischarge conveyor 38, may be employed to discharge the debarked logs10a from the log debarking apparatus 10.

A weir plate 40 (FIG. 1) may be employed to control the passage of thelogs 12 through the log debarking apparatus 10. The weir plate 40, asillustrated in FIG. 1, may be mounted upon suitable weir positioningmeans such as the hydraulic cylinders 41 such that the period of timethe logs 12 remain in the log debarking apparatus 10 may be easilycontrolled.

For the purpose of inclining the movable staves 30 at an optimum anglewith respect to stationary staves 34 for optimum debarking of the logs12, which optimum angle varies with different types of wood and seasonsof the year, a first positioning means, such as a plurality ofpositionable hydraulic cylinders 42 (FIG. 1) are used.

Referring to FIG. 1, bark 50 falls between the movable staves 30 and thestationary staves 34 into a bark discharge means, such as the barkdischarge conveyor 52.

In addition, the movable staves 30 (FIGS. 3 and 4) and the stationarystaves 34 (FIGS. and 6) are provided with bark removal means, such asthe clearance spaces 54, through which the bark 50 drops into a barktray 56 (FIG. 1) and thence into the bark discharge con- 7 veyor 52.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the improved logdebarking apparatus may be alternatively constructed as shown in FIGS. 7and 8.

Alternative embodiments It will be noted from FIG. 7 that the endlesschain means 14 and the stationary debarking means 31 may be divided intosections 14a 14b, 14c and sections 31a, 31b, 316, respectively. For thepurpose of controlling the flow of the logs 12 between sections 14a"-31a, 145 -3111 and 146 -310 and the time period necessary for completeremoval of the bark from such logs 12, weir means, such as the weirplates 40 may be mounted thereinbetween. Such weir plates 40 arepositionablle on weir positioning means (not shown in FIG. 7) butsimilar to weir positioning means 41 in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 8, the beams 33a of the stationary debarking means 31may be pivoted at 44 and raised by a second positioning means, such as aplurality of positionable hydraulic cylinders 46, one for each section3111 etc., to the optimum debarking angle.

It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the objects ofthe present invention have been achieved by providing an improved logdebarking apparatus which:

(1) Maintains the logs in continuous rolling abrading contact toefiiciently debark the logs;

(2) Is economical in labor and in power consumption;

(3) Removes bark from logs of any length, shape or diameter;

(4) Is simple, rugged and durable;

(5) Is low in initial cost, in installation cost and in maintenancecost;

(6) Substantially eliminates frequent shut down to sharpen or replacecutters;

(7) Completely removes the bark from the logs and does not remove ordamage valuable wood in the debarked logs;

(8) Is completely automated and capable of high debarked log production;

(9) Easily and quickly feeds logs to and discharges logs from theapparatus;

(10) Reduces materially the log load and log impact on the drum, therebyreducing the weight, vibration strain, wear and breakage in theapparatus; and simplifies the journalling problem; and

(11) Efliciently removes frozen bark from the logs.

While in accordance with the patent statutes a preferred and alternativeembodiment of the present invention have been illustrated and describedin detail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto or thereby.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for automatically debarking logs, said apparatuscomprising:

first supporting means;

second supporting means adjacent said first supporting means and facingsaid first supporting means;

said first and second supporting means cooperating to form a log passagetherebetween and inclining to opposing sides of said log passage;

a plurality of first debarking staves carried by said first supportingmeans for movement therearound in the direction of the incline of saidfirst supporting means;

a plurality of second debarking staves carried by said second supportingmeans; and

means operatively connected to said first debarking staves for movingsuch around said first supporting means in the direction of the inclinethereof to cause said first debarking staves to agitate logs passingthrough said log passage into frictional contact with each other andwith said first and second debarking staves to deb-ark said logs.

2. An apparatus for automatically debarking logs, said apparatuscomprising:

first supporting means;

second supporting means adjacent said first supporting means and facingsaid first supporting means;

said first and second supporting means cooperating to form a log passagetherebetween and inclining towards opposing sides of said log passage;

endless belt means extending around said first supporting means in thedirection of the incline thereof for movement around said firstsupporting means in the direction of the incline thereof;

a plurality of first debarking staves upon said endless belt means formovement therewith;

a plurality of stationary debarking staves upon said second supportingmeans; and

means operatively connected to said endless belt means for moving suchin the direction of the incline of said first supporting means to causesaid first debarking staves to agitate logs passing through the logpassage into frictional contact with each other and with said first andstationary debarking staves to debark said logs.

3. An apparatus for automatically debarking logs, said apparatuscomprising:

first supporting means;

second supporting means adjacent said first supporting means and facingsaid first supporting means;

said first and second supporting means cooperating to form a log passagetherebetween and inclining towards opposing sides of said log passage;

positioning means operatively connected to one of said first and secondsupporting means for adjusting the incline thereof;

endless belt means extending around said first supporting means in thedirection of the incline thereof for movement around said firstsupporting means in the direction of the incline thereof;

a plurality of first debarking staves upon said endless belt means formovement therewith;

a plurality of stationary debarking staves upon said second supportingmeans; and

means operatively connected to said endless belt means for moving suchin the direction of the incline of said first supporting means to causesaid first debarking staves to agitate logs passing through the logpassage into frictional contact with each other and with said first andstationary debarking staves to debark said logs.

4. An apparatus for automatically debarlring logs, said apparatuscomprising:

first supporting means;

second supporting means adjacent said first supporting means and facingsaid first supporting means;

Said first and second supporting means cooperating to form a log passagetherebetween and inclining towards opposing sides of said log passage;

positioning means operatively connected to said first supporting meansfor adjusting the incline thereof;

endless belt means extending around said first supporting means in thedirection of the incline thereof for movement around said firstsupporting means in the direction of the incline thereof;

a plurality of first debarking staves upon said endless belt means formovement therewith;

a plurality of stationary debarking staves upon said second supportingmeans; and

means operatively connected to said endless belt means for moving suchin the direction of the incline of said first supporting means to causesaid first debarking staves to agitate logs passing through the logpassage into frictional contact with each other and With said first andstationary debarking staves to debark said logs.

5. An apparatus for automatically debarlcing logs, said apparatuscomprising:

first supporting means;

second supporting means adjacent said first supporting means and facingsaid first supporting means;

said first and second supporting means cooperating to form a log passagetherebetween and inclining to wards opposing sides of said log passage;

endless belt means extending around said first supporting means in thedirection of the incline thereof for movement around said firstsupporting means in the direction of the incline thereof;

a plurality of first debarking staves upon said endless belt means formovement therewith;

a plurality of stationary debarking staves upon said second supportingmeans;

means cooperating with said first and said stationary debarking stavesfor transporting bark removed by said first and said stationarydebarking staves from such staves; and

means operatively connected to said endless belt means for moving suchin the direction of the incline of said first supporting means to causesaid first debarking staves to agitate logs passing through the logpassage into frictional contact With each other and with said first andstationary debarking staves to debark said logs.

6. An apparatus for automatically debarking logs, said apparatuscomprising:

first supporting means;

second supporting means adjacent said first supporting means and facingsaid first supporting means;

said first and second supporting means cooperating to form a log passagetherebetween and inclining towards opposing sides of said log passage;

a plurality of endless belts extending around said first supportingmeans in the direction of the incline thereof for movement around saidfirst supporting means in the direction of the incline thereof;

a plurality of first debarking staves upon each of said endless beltsfor movement therewith;

a plurality of stationary debarking staves upon said second supportingmeans; and

means operatively connected to said endless belts for moving such in thedirection of the incline of said first supporting means to cause saidfirst debarking staves to agitate log-s passing through the log passageinto frictional contact With each other and With said first andstationary debarking staves to debark said logs.

7. An apparatus for automatically debarking logs, said apparatuscomprising:

first supporting means;

second supporting means adjacent said first supporting means and facingsaid first supporting means;

said first and second supporting means cooperating to form a log passagetherebetween and inclining towards opposing sides of said log passage;

endless belt means extending around said first supporting means in thedirection of the incline thereof for movement around said firstsupporting means in the direction of the incline thereof;

a plurality of first debarking staves upon said endless belt means formovement therewith;

a plurality of stationary debarking staves upon said second supportingmeans, said stationary debarking staves being longitudinally dividedinto a plurality of stave sections;

weir means disposed in the log passage intermediate the stave sectionscomprising said stationary staves for controlling the flow of logsbetween said stave sections and the time period the logs are subjectedto each of the stave sections; and

means operatively connected to said endless belt means for moving suchin the direction of the incline of said first supporting means to causesaid first debarking staves to agitate logs passing through the logpassage into frictional contact with each other and with said first andstationary debarking staves to debark said logs.

8. A debarking apparatus according to claim 7 wherein positioning meansare operatively connected to said Weir means for adjusting the effectivecontrol area of said weir means.

9. A debarking apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said endless beltmeans comprises a plurality of aligned endless belts and a plurality offirst debarking staves is disposed upon each of said endless belts.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,137,452 11/1938Hillbom. 2,647,548 8/ 1953 Guettler.

FOREIGN PATENTS 117,766 2/ 1901 Germany.

WILLIAM W. DYER, 111., Primary Examiner. W. D. BRAY, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DEBARKING LOGS, SAID APPARATUSCOMPRISING: FIRST SUPPORTING MEANS; SECOND SUPPORTING MEANS ADJACENTSAID FIRST SUPPORTING MEANS AND FACING SAID FIRST SUPPORTING MEANS; SAIDFIRST AND SECOND SUPPORTING MEANS COOPERATING TO FORM A LOG PASSAGETHEREBETWEEN AND INCLINING TO OPPOSING SIDES OF SAID LOG PASSAGE; APLURALITY OF FIRST DEBARKING STAVES CARRIED BY SAID FIRST SUPPORTINGMEANS FOR MOVEMENT THEREAROUND IN THE DIRECTION OF THE INCLINE OF SAIDFIRST SUPPORTING MEANS; A PLURALITY OF SECOND DEBARKING STAVES CARRIEDBY SAID SECOND SUPPORTING MEANS; AND